(Further reflection on “When We Disagree 1.0”—Sunday 12-Sep-2021)
Did you know the difference between opinions, persuasions, and convictions? In a nutshell, opinions are quick thoughts or feelings or ideas and they are plentiful and wildly diverse. Persuasions are derived from a careful research/study of the Bible study (i.e. Observation, Interpretation, Application), interacted with biblically/scholarly literatures) and they are usually different in nuances, interpretation, and application. Now convictions are clear biblical core teachings/doctrines of the Bible and they are very few and non-negotiable.
We are instructed (Romans 14:1-9) that we should not quarrel over opinions (or persuasions), especially when it comes to non-essential things, e.g. food or (Jewish/Christian) days/events in the light the gospel of Jesus Christ. Alright, so should we quarrel over convictions then? Well, you are free to do whatever you want, but pastorally speaking, don’t waste your time quarreling with someone about, for example, the Trinity (God is one but exists in three distinct equal Godhead/person) or the dual nature (humanity and divinity) of Jesus Christ or the existence of heaven and hell, etc. Explaining is okay. Just in case you didn’t know, most of the evangelical (protestant) Christian churches’ theological core/convictions, throughout church history, can be generally summed up in the Apostles’ Creed or/and Nicene Creed (details of the two can be found in the endnote/P.S. below).
Now I thought it might be practically helpful for us if I share with you some of frequently asked questions (Q) and responses (R) that I had personally experienced (details were changed) in recent years.
Q: What do you think about vaccines? Are you for or against it?
R: This is in the area of opinions, so yours and mine or anyone else will be equally valid. Now to the first part of your question, I have a question for you. Are vaccines a form of medicine? If you are a kind of person who never took medicines when you got sick, then you might have decided already. To the second part of your question, I am neither for or against in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which does not address this question. So it’s your personal choice. However, picture yourself as a missionary (indeed we all are called by God to share the Gospel, but some just ignored it) and want to go to a place where they require you to get two shots of tequila/alcohol before granting you a visa, will you do that for the sake of the Gospel/mission? (I bet there will be a number of people will line up for that). Lastly, do you agree that Jesus died for both the unvaccinated and vaccinated believers? I hope you do.
Q: I believe in God but don’t think Jesus is God. Am I saved?
R: This is core-conviction in the Holy Scriptures (66 Books)—God’s word. It is not about what you think, I think, someone thinks. It is biblically/theologically clear that Jesus is the Son of God and also God Himself. If one does not think Jesus is God, then he/she does not believe Jesus is his/her Lord and Savior. In short, no faith in Jesus, no salvation (and no negotiation)! However, (if you don’t mind) I can pray for you and journey with you till Jesus who is God reveals Himself to your through His Word. You can keep your opinions and I’m ok with that. However, if you are going spread this wrong understanding in this church, I will warn you three times and if you do not stop, you will not be welcome (read ‘excommunicated’) in our church. The Bible is clear on this and as the overseer/shepherd/pastor of the church, I need to protect God’s flock from false doctrine whether I am being hated or loved by you (and your friends), which by the way is irrelevant to the issue.
Q: I used to be meat-eater, but after seeing the meat industry that made negative impact on the environment, I am now a vegan and thought everyone who loves God’s creation should do the same. R: Your decision is opinion-based. They are not even persuasions. Why? Have you done your personal Bible study, tracing it from the Old to New Testaments, and interacting with scholarly materials that had been discussed on the issue. If you did, great, that’s your persuasion and I’m glad that you shared it with me. However, they are not Christian core/convictions. In fact, the Bible (cf. Genesis 9:3) clearly said that that every moving thing that lives and green plants shall be food for us, just don’t eat blood (cf. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10; Deuteronomy 12:16, 26; 1 Samuel 14:33; and Acts 15:20, 29). Wait, you may ask, so I cannot eat blood then? Again, you are free to do whatever you want, but the Bible is clear on that. Alright, you may say, but is it a sin to eat blood? It was a sin in the Old Testament and a command/guideline in the New Testament church council (Acts 15:20, 29) for Christians (Jews and Gentiles). There are three things/commands: (a) to abstain from the things polluted by idols; (b) from sexual immorality; and (c) from what has been strangled, and from blood. For issue (a), it was further explained in 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 which was explained as a sin against other fellow Christians and ultimately Christ. The same principle can be applied for issue (c).
Q: Alright. Thanks but the part on “eating blood” is not totally clear. Can you elaborate a bit further or give me a yes/no answer?
R: Fair enough! Let’s wait to hear more Romans 14:10-23 this Sunday 19-Sep-2021. See you on Sunday livestream. Jesus blesses,
—
Pastor Lap
P.S. The Apostles’ Creed and Nicence Creed (and their minor differences) here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/churchhomeleadership/nicene-apostles-creeds.html
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